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About

Knoxville’s Neighborhood Butchery

Run by Master Butcher William Carithers and his wife and co-owner, Samantha, Willy’s Butcher Shop has been Knoxville’s community butchery since 2013. Our shared passion can be felt as soon as you walk into the shop and tasted in every cut of meat we sell. At Willy’s, we believe it is important to engage you in the meat-buying experience. Many people think a butcher shop is just a place to buy expensive steaks for special occasions. We are an independent butcher shop dedicated to educating our customers as well as serving them. And we do it all with a smile, because the people in our shop are not just customers, they are our neighbors as well. At Willy’s Butcher Shop, we offer premium poultry, pork, lamb, beef, and sausage in addition to prepared items, meal kits, and seasonal specialties. Willy’s also offers dry aged meats along with our fresh meats. Equipped with the only oak-Lined dry aging room in the Southeast, Willy’s Butcher Shop dry aged meats have a unique flavor only achieved by the personal attention of Willy. We provide only the cleanest, freshest meats and highest quality customer service to every guest. That’s the Willy’s way.

Meet Willy

William Carithers, Co-Owner and Master Butcher

Although he was born and raised in Atlanta, William has been a proud Knoxvillian for 15 years. William grew up in a family that loved and valued food. Instead of eating to live, William and his family lived to eat. Saturday mornings always included a trip to the local butcher shop – memories that would later influence William’s decision to earn a culinary degree from Johnson and Wales Culinary School in Charleston, SC. He also studied under a French Master Butcher with 45 years of experience. In 2002, William opened his first butcher shop on Bearden Hill. Then, after a brief hiatus, he continued his passion by opening Willy’s Butcher Shop in the heart of Bearden. Deeply passionate about his craft, William’s mission is providing quality meats to serve as a canvas for professional chefs and discerning home cooks as they create their own culinary masterpieces. When he’s not busy at the shop, William serves on the UT Culinary Board and participates in Creekstone Meats’ “Cure Camp,” sharing his expertise with students, professional chefs, and future butchers.

Meet Samantha

Samantha Carithers, President

Samantha met William when the two were consultants collaborating on a restaurant project, and the rest is history. Sam quit her job of 23 years in healthcare to open the Butcher Shop with William, and now they run a business – and a family! – together.
Cooking for a family can be stressful, and trust us – no one understands that better than Samantha. When you visit Willy’s Butcher Shop, she will be right behind the counter, ready to welcome you in. Samantha understands that butcher shops can be intimidating, and she makes a conscious effort to help every customer feel comfortable. Samantha loves teaching people how to use cuts of meat to bring clean, delicious proteins to their dinner table. And if you’re a busy parent, Samantha is exactly the person to ask about healthy, homemade meals that are easy to prepare for your family on weeknights. For Samantha, the kitchen has always been a warm, safe place to nourish your body, mind, and soul. After all, the best discussions and memories happen over the stove or around the dinner table.

About Willy’s Butcher Shop

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Run by Master Butcher William Carithers and his wife and co-owner, Samantha, Willy’s Butcher Shop has been Knoxville’s neighborhood butchery since 2013.